Leicester’s refreshing youth policy is a reminder that size isn’t everything in rugby January 30, 2017 Harry Thacker, the 22-year-old Leicester hooker, is not unfamiliar with crossing the whitewash, and scored his 10th club try in a dynamic display as the Tigers bounced back from an embarrassing Champions Cup defeat last weekend to beat Northampton Saints 27-20 on Saturday. Thacker is continuing the trend of outstanding Welford Road hookers who are [...]
Loosehead prop Joe Marler set to defy injury prognosis and line up for England in Six Nations opener against France January 30, 2017 England forwards coach Steve Borthwick has confirmed that loosehead prop Joe Marler is poised to complete a remarkable recovery and line up during Saturday’s Six Nations opener against France. Harlequins powerhouse Marler was expected to be sidelined for five weeks, which would have included the opening two rounds of the championship, after suffering a fracture [...]
Injuries revealed: The Premier League’s worst hit teams of the 2016/17 season January 30, 2017 As the business end of the football season approaches, it's far from unusual for managers and fans to crack open excuses to explain performances that don't make the grade. And one of the more common explanations noted by managers through gritted teeth in their post-match interviews is that their team is has been blighted by a raft of injuries. [...]
Eddie Jones backs wing Anthony Watson to make impact in latter stages of Six Nations after being sidelined with hamstring injury January 29, 2017 England head coach Eddie Jones has backed injured wing Anthony Watson to force his way into his side’s plans during the latter stages of the Six Nations despite being ruled out for up to four weeks. A medical assessment confirmed that Watson has a slight muscular strain to his hamstring which will require rehabilitation and [...]
Furious England skipper Eoin Morgan set to report umpire to cricket authorities January 29, 2017 Irate England skipper Eoin Morgan bemoaned the quality of umpiring after his side succumbed in the final over to hand India a Twenty20 series-levelling victory in Nagpur. With the tourists requiring eight runs to win, Joe Root was dismissed off the first ball of the final over, given out LBW by umpire Chettithody Shamshuddin despite [...]
Sutton United 1, Leeds United 0: Greatest day in club’s history as fifth-tier U’s slay Championship high-flyers January 29, 2017 Euphoric Sutton boss Paul Doswell declared his side’s slaying of Championship high-flyers Leeds as the greatest moment in the club’s history after The U’s reached the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in their history. Not since the formation of the Football League in 1888 have two non-league teams made the competition’s last [...]
Manchester united 4, Wigan Athletic 0: Jose Mourinho stays tight-lipped on Wayne Rooney future January 29, 2017 Manchester United 4, Wigan Athletic 0 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has pledged to keep midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger until the end of the season but dodged questions about Wayne Rooney’s future. Schweinsteiger completed his improbable return to the United first-team picture with the fourth goal in a comprehensive FA Cup fourth-round win over Championship strugglers [...]
Fulham 4, Hull City 1: Slavisa Jokanovic not interested in glamour tie after downing Premier League Hull in FA Cup fourth round January 29, 2017 Fulham 4, Hull City 1 Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic conceded to hoping for an easy fifth-round draw after they inflicted top-flight Hull’s second cup elimination in the space of four days. Ex-Tigers forward Sone Aluko opened the scoring against his former team, and although Evandro equalised, Chris Martin put second-tier Fulham back in front after a [...]
Dimitri Payet set to complete Marseille return after West Ham accept £25m bid January 29, 2017 West Ham playmaker Dimitri Payet is set to rejoin former club Marseille in the next 48 hours after the Hammers accepted a £25m offer for the France international. Payet is believed to have travelled to Marseille on Sunday with a view to undergoing a medical examination on Monday and completing the transfer before Tuesday’s deadline. [...]
Only the career grand slam compares to winning the Australian Open on my return from a six-month injury lay-off, says Roger Federer January 29, 2017 Former world No1 Roger Federer toasted one of the most memorable wins of his glittering career after he defeated old foe Rafael Nadal in a gladiatorial Australian Open finale on Sunday. Federer’s 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Nadal in their ninth grand slam final brought the 35-year-old a record-extending 18th major title and [...]